expensive feedstock. Timing wascritical and the simplicity of thesystem allowed for faster installationto meet Valero’s requirement.

Original Source: Praxair Inc, 39 Old Ridgebury Road,Danbury, CT 06810, USA, tel: +1 716 879 4077, fax:+1 716 879 2040, website: http://www.praxair.com(17 Apr 2013) © Praxair Technology Inc 2013

SINOxR plate catalysts ensure safeNOx reduction in Denmark

In order to significantly reduce theemission of NOx in its power stations,DONG Energy has cooperated withJohnson Matthey Catalysts (Germany)GmbH since 2009. The leadingproducer of technical ceramics withmanufacturing in Redwitz, Germany,provides SINOxR plate catalyst for thePower Stations 3 and 4 ofStudstrupvaerket, one of ten centralpower stations operated by the Danishenergy provider. The catalyst reducesnitrogen oxides in the power station’sexhaust air. The power plants arefuelled 90% with coal and about 10%with biomass. Each unit generates upto 350 MW electricity and additionallyprovides heat to most of the citizens ofthe city of Aarhus and the surroundingregion. The technical performance andthe price/performance ratio of the JMproduct convinced the power plantoperator to replace 380 m3 of oldercatalysts with SINOxR catalyst. Sincethe replacement of the catalyst beds,the power station operates with goodclean exhaust values and improvedplant availability. Now, all required loadranges can be achieved in the powerstation without problems and DONGEnergy has made good progresstoward their objective of removingalmost all nitrogen oxides from theexhaust air of its power stations bydeciding for SINOxR catalysts. Nitrogenoxide reduction with SINOxR catalystsis based on the most effective principleavailable, the selective catalyticreduction process. In this process, thenitrogen oxides are mixed with areduction medium and is thentransformed into harmless nitrogen andwater without any disadvantageoussecondary reactions. However, atcooler operating temperature rangebetween 270° and 380°, ammoniumsulfate settles in the catalysts. Technicalexperts at JM documented, based onlaboratory tests, the fact that high-gradeSINOxR catalysts can be operated atthese temperatures without fouling

problems. Examples for fields ofapplication are firing systems usinghard coal, heavy fuel oil and residual oilfrom refineries as well as high-dustindustrial processes and wood firing.

Original Source: Johnson Matthey Power PlantIndustries, website:http://www.powerplantcatalysts.com/en (18 Apr 2013)© Johnson Matthey Catalysts (Germany) PowerPlants Industries 2013

JM introduces low-cost base-metalcatalyst for PTA plants

Johnson Matthey has developed anew low-cost, base-metal HalocatSC29 catalyst specifically designed toreduce up to 99% of VOC and toxicorganic compounds from purifiedterephthalic acid (PTA) manufacturingplants. Available from JM’s StationaryEmissions Control (SEC) Group, thebreakthrough catalyst has importantadvantages: significant lower cost ofownership with the same leading VOCreduction; smaller capital investmentbecause the catalyst does not containhigh cost platinum group metals; priceprotection against market fluctuationsin precious metal; and high VOCreduction performance that isequivalent to more expensiveprecious metal catalysts.

Original Source: Johnson Matthey Power PlantIndustries, website:http://www.powerplantcatalysts.com/en (5 Apr 2013)© Johnson Matthey Catalysts (Germany) PowerPlants Industries 2013

Rennovia’s bio-based adipic acidproduction method identified as mosteconomical process

Rennovia Inc, has been identified inan IHS report as prospect for cost-advantaged bio-based adipic acidproduction as against conventionalpetroleum-based processes based onoxidation of cyclohexane, and morerecently described processesemploying fermentation. While notingthat both the Rennovia andfermentation processes have yet to bescaled to commercial plants, whichintroduces some inherent uncertaintiesin the technical and economicanalyses, the IHS Chemical ProcessEconomics Program (PEP) Report#284 Bio-Based Adipic Acid concludedthat Rennovia’s process offers lowerprojected cash and full productioncosts than the current, dominantpetroleum-based process, and

potential fermentation processesproposed to be under development.

Original Source: Rennovia, 2013. Found onSpecialChem Adhesives and Sealants Formulation, 26 Apr 2013, (Website:http://www.specialchem4adhesives.com)

PATENTSDual zeolite catalyst for making ethylbenzene

This is a process for making ethylbenzene from ethanol and benzene.Two process are involved. Oneconverts the ethanol to ethane andthen ethylene; the other is essentially aFischer-Tropsch reaction whichcombines the ethylene with thebenzene. A variety of catalysts, mostlyof MFI topology can be used for the firststep. The second step is catalysed byNES zeotypes, mostly SAPO types.The two zeolites are bound withalumina and calcined together.

US 8,435,909, King Fahd University of Petroleum andMinerals, Dharan, Saudi Arabia, 7 May 2013

Catalysts using organic-inorganicsupports

The complex catalysts are intendedfor a variety of hydrorefining andhydroconversion reaction reactions inpetrochemistry. They are made bygrafting a metallo-organic compound,such as a metal alkoxide, on to asulphur-containing inorganic supportalso containing a catalytic metal.

US 8,435,912, IFP Energies Nouvelles, RueillMalmaison, France, 7 May 2013

Ethanol from methanol from biomass

The ethanol is carbonylated withcarbon monoxide over a rhodium-containing catalyst; the resultingmethyl acetate is hydrogenated tomethanol. All the ingredients can beobtained from biomass.

US 8,436,215, Anerkem Inc, Montreal, Quebec,Canada, 7 May 2013

Ethanol from methanol from aceticacid

This process uses two streamsobtained by carbonylation of methanolusing a rhodium-containing catalystunder aqueous conditions. One streamis substantially acetaldehyde, the other

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